[quote name='Happy Jack' timestamp='1349599775' post='1828018']
Weren't Eko basses made in Florence?
[/quote]
I remember the name but didn't remember where it was made - Wikipedia helped:
[quote]
[b]Eko[/b] is an Italian manufacturer of electric guitars, [url="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Steel-string_guitar"]acoustic guitars[/url] and similar instruments, catering to professional level and manufacturing largely for export. It is located in [url="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Recanati"]Recanati[/url], [url="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Marche"]Marche[/url].
Their products include [url="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Classical_guitar"]classical guitars[/url], [url="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/12-string_guitar"]12-string guitars[/url], [url="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Arch_top_guitar"]arch top guitars[/url], [url="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Electric_guitar"]electric guitars[/url] and [url="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Acoustic_bass_guitar"]acoustic bass guitars[/url].
Eko guitars gained high popularity during the rock'n'roll craze of 1960s, becoming the largest guitar exporter in Europe. Their electric models were often highly ornamented with pearl, featured 3 or 4 pickups and recognizable "rocker" switches for pickup selection. The acoustic models were popular in country and folk rock bands of the late '60s. The best-known models of '60s include:[list]
[*][url="http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Eko_400_Ekomaster&action=edit&redlink=1"]Eko 400 Ekomaster[/url] ([url="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fender_Jaguar"]Fender Jaguar[/url] shape with flat-top, [url="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hagstr%C3%B6m"]Hagström[/url]-style control panel),
[*][url="http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Eko_500&action=edit&redlink=1"]Eko 500[/url] (Fender Jaguar look-a-like),
[*][url="http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Eko_700&action=edit&redlink=1"]Eko 700[/url] (original triple-cutaway design with "hockey stick" head),
[*][url="http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Eko_290&action=edit&redlink=1"]Eko 290[/url] (also known as Eko Barracuda, semi-hollow flat-top electric),
[*][url="http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Eko_Rokes&action=edit&redlink=1"]Eko Rokes[/url] (rocket-shaped electric, made popular by an Italian pop band of the same name, The Rokes)
[*][url="http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Eko_Kadett&action=edit&redlink=1"]Eko Kadett[/url] ('67 original double cutaway with characteristic long "horns") and
[*][url="http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Eko_Ranger&action=edit&redlink=1"]Eko Ranger[/url] (the best-selling Eko product, acoustic in 6 and 12-string version).
[*][url="http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Eko_995&action=edit&redlink=1"]Eko 995[/url] (violin bodied 4 string bass wildly popular in the late 60's)
[/list]
Eko also produced guitars for Vox in the '60s,in the USA they were distributed through LoDuca brothers of Millwauke Wisconsin.
In the UK the instruments were imported by [url="http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Rose-Morris,_London&action=edit&redlink=1"]Rose-Morris, London[/url].[/quote]
I must admit that I still prefer Warwicks, though!